Danged Ol' Harley's

Are you sure there isn't a link to that on your porn site that you and ol'
Mark are so proud of.. hmmm.. Nah that was KY or something .. Hey Mark.. you
and ol' John are sure evasive.. I'm trying to find out what he was charged
with and where he did his time.. Also I'd like to find out if you ever
discovered anything on a Prince Albert Lodge... You boys sure dance a lot..
Some speculation is going on about this intimate relationship you guys seem
to have, also...LMAO... You are best judged by the company you keep...

 

LOL.. easy does it old buddy.. I ride with quite a few Harley's .. old ones
and new ones.. Most of them use a good brand oil, off the shelves.. Usually
a 10W40 weight.. I'm no "oil" expert but that is what I use in my
motorcycle.. I am most likely to buy a Valveolene product.. You've run with
my motorcycle.. and Waco's.. what's the criticism of the way either perform
??.. One's a Harley and one's a rice burner.. Gonna bum kick someone's
motorcycle .. start with mine.. Hello world..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Well the reality is that the Kaw is a better bike than the Harley.
It's got better quality control, and it costs about 1/3 the price of a
Harley.

It is only a kick to those that buy into the Harley rhetoric. If you
say you love your Harley just because you do and that's what you want
you will get no argument from me. If, however, you start feeding me
all the crap about how much better they are then you should be able to
back it up. The problem, is that you can't. ;-)



--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Can't argue with any of that.. LOL.. especially this little Vulcan.. That
thing has performed well for 7 1/2 years, under my narrow butt.. And you see
how I ride.. It was about a third the cost of a comparable Harley.. That
being said.. I will point out that I was shopping for a Heritage Classic at
the time.. The metroplex dealerships pissed me off and I considered flying
to California to buy one.. for about 6,000 under these dealers.. I changed
my mind because I just didn't want to deal with these guys in Texas, and I
agree Harley is a high maintenance motorcycle.. So .. I bought the Vulcan
and detailed it the way I would have detailed the Heritage.. That was my
choice and the way I saw it, then..I admire that Heritage Classic every time
I get close to one.. Waco has one of the sharpest Heritage Springers
around.. And he takes good care of it.. That was his choice.. .. We are
mostly on the same page.. don't you think.?? I've never regretted buying
that Vulcan and would recommend it to anyone who likes a bike of that type..
It does work.. don't it ?

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

If that's what makes one better, then okay, I'll agree. Of course,
better is in the eyes of the beholder...see below

That is what I say. I wanted one since I saw my first one at the
Oklahoma City Half-Mile, when I was about 6. I've owned other bikes,
too, Hondas and Yamahas, dirt and street. Never changed my original
desire, though.

They are better for me. I realize, and fully admit, that they are
underpowered (when stock), shake, rattle, have a tendency to leak
(although mine does not yet), are hot, and expensive.

But...and you knew this was coming...I don't give a shit about all of
that. I knew it going in, and still wanted one. *To me* nothing sounds
like one, nothing feels like one, and nothing looks as good as one.
Again, *to me*.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and I respect yours.

 

Oye... Mike.. good to see you.. Fullstate and I have this discussion
regularly.. usually when we ride together .. I ride a pretty sharp little
cruiser.. I ridden a few Harleys and love them.. Usually dressers till I got
so damn old.. LOL.. Decided to ride something a little lighter and easier
for an old man to handle.. The Heritage seemed to be the one, but.. the
price was out of sight and the dealers in Texas were all assholes.. Wound up
with this little Vulcan and immediately detailed it the way I wanted.. I'm
told it sounds a good deal like a Harley and even better than some.. (joke
... it sounds the way I like it too).. I've ridden that bike for more than
seven years now, and a lot of miles with friends on Harleys.. So far as I
know, never embarassed any of them..

Fullstate is one of the good guys and we have been friends for some time,
now.. don't get the wrong idea.. Come see us on a day run and we'll make you
proud.. Have a good one..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Yeah, Wakko got a real sharp looking bike there. I am a little
partial to the Deuces for over-all look, but I do like the springer
soft tails as well.

When I got into bikes I bought a Honda because I couldn't afford a
Harley. I then bought a Suzuki - mainly so my g/f could learn to
ride, and then I bought another Honda and rode the hell out of that
bike. We got a new Honda (sport bike) for my g/f, and then I got rid
of my cruiser to get the Aprilia.

All of the Honda's were excellent motorcycles. The Suzuki was a great
learner bike (GS500E) and never gave us any problems. Aside from the
base gasket leaking a touch on my Aprilia it's been a real good bike.
Oh yeah, the clutch slave went out, but that was an easy fix.

--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

I have this discussion regularly too, usually with my dad (who rides a
Shadow) and another riding buddy who is big into Ducs.

No argument from me there, either. The dealers here are expensive.

That's what is important...the way you like it.

Believe me, I wasn't irritated or anything. Just offering another guy's
perspective on what works for me.

I'll ride with anybody, doesn't matter to me what they ride.

 

Well, there are other factors as well, but I was just citing two easy
examples.

I always wanted one since I was kid. I still like them, but I'll
never pay that much money to "The Company" for a bike that is not on
par with all other bikes out there today. It just doesn't make good
financial sense. If I won a brand new Harley, I'd sell it. If I was
given an older Harley, or could buy it for some ridiculous price, I'd
keep it.

The other problem I have with what Harley has done is that they have
turned their back on all the people that kept them alive during their
AMF years. All those people that kept buying the bikes and kept them
in business can't afford one. Brilliant business move from HD, but it
just rubs me the wrong way.

Fair enough. I would debate you on the sound, but to me it's one of
those things that is negligible.

Feel? Do you mean how you feel about the bike, or feel while ON the
bike? I think Harley still has some serious problems when it comes to
ergos. Every year I go to the bike show and every year I sit on the
new models. Every year I tell the reps their ergos suck. Even the
bike rags tell 'em the ergos suck, and they don't fix it. I think
last year was the first time I sat on one of the models and it wasn't
AS bad and I was impressed.

Now, if you mean the feel of having your fillings vibrated out of your
skull, and you like that, then you are right - you can't beat an HD
there. ;-)


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

When I got into bikes I bought a Honda because I couldn't afford a

Any word yet on how Aprilia's fairing with their financial woes? Have
they decided to sell Guzzi?

They are a great, new startup story with quick market penetration and
many happy customers. I'd sure hate to hear them drop out of sight.

 

It's not just the AMF period. the stealerships are now declining to
work on Shovelheads which aren't that old anyway. Imagine going to a
Chevy or Ford dealer and being told "we don't work on 1984 year models
anymore. Go away". the Shovel was produced from 1966 to 1985 and now
they don't want to hear about it. That's poor.

 

Some Honda places no longer work on the 1000s (late 70s). A few will
hesitate on the 1100s (to 83). I have yet to hear of a 1200 they won't
work on (84-87).

 

Dunno if it's a locally-decided thing or not, but Central Yamaha (Off
Legacy in Plano) told me they won't work on bikes over 15 years old...
(They DID change my tire for me, though).. The things that I was going to
have them work on, I just learned to do myself. Aquired knowledge goes a
long way.

Rex S.

 

Yah, but they have a few more models to deal with too. There are only
three HD big twin motors from 1966 to the present: the Shovel, the Evo
and the TC, with the Shovel ending production in '86 and the Evo ending
in '99. Their are lots of parts available from the aftermarket, so HD
must not want to deal with it so as to push the new stuff. I understand
their position, but refusing to work on an 1984 Big Twin at a dealership
is not right, imo. I'm sure there are dealerships that will accomodate,
but it's generally HD policy to decline them.

Parts availability is usually the biggest problem for the Japansese
mftr's because they put out so many different models and have turnover
in the product line regulary. That's not the case with HD and that is
also supposed to be one of their great supporting things, the lack of
change for longevity, interchangeability and general availability of
parts.

 

Well, it looked like Ducati was going to buy the Guzzi name from them.
Then, on one of the Aprilia sites I frequent it looks like Ducati made
an offer to buy the majority shares of Aprilia itself. I'm not sure
if I read that right or not as it was the actual purchase by Eurpoean
standards.

Looks like they will stay in business, and if Ducati gets 'em then
it's good for Ducati. I just would like to see them stay afloat.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Are you serious? I hadn't even heard about that. I know some guys
that will still wrench on 'em. I am surprised that Harley is thumbing
their nose at them. That's terrible.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Sunny -

I have not heard of a dealer declining to work on a bike. I
have heard of them telling a customer that they didn't think they
could get the parts as they are no longer made. In those cases, the
dealer can still get the parts, but they have to track them down and
in that case they charge for their time (reasonable).

But no, I've never heard of a dealer just saying they refused
to work on the bike anymore.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

It looks like I stand corrected - based on some of the other posts
about dealers not working on bikes. I guess I just hadn't seen that.

I enjoy wrenching on my own bike for the most part. However, in the
case of fixing my base gasket, I'd let someone else do it as it
requires that you tear down most of the engine to do it. At that
point, it's easier to pull it.

I just don't have the time, tools, or the knowledge to put it all back
together correctly. ;-)


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

True enough.

I agree with that. It doesn't make good financial sense. I just consider
it the price of being entertained.

Good point. They're riding the crest, and profiting like most would like
to be.

I think it's also pretty subjective. I love the sound of a V-twin.
Probably my favorite is a Harley XR-750 dirt tracker. Ducati runs a
close third, behind my bike. But again, subjective. I'd also argue that
the sound of my FZR roadracer at 13K RPM was pretty sweet, too.

I generally like the way the bike feels, with one exception: I need
handlebars that have more pullback. I'm not the tallest guy in the
world, and I do have to reach a bit. Other than that, it's comfortable
to me.

The VROD sucks. For sure. IMHO.

I must admit, there is an appeal. I'm not sure what that says about me,
but you're right, they do vibrate a tad.

 

I like the sound and power curve of the V-Twins. That's why I have an
Aprilia. Albeit, it's quite a bit different from a cruiser v-twin.
The inline 4's are a better power plant, but there is just something
about the twins.

Now I am starting to sound like a Coors Light commercial. ;-)


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!